Laying in the dirt I pressed a hand to the gash along my hip from my rapid escape, staring up at what looked to be a massive rock overhang stretching out past my vision till I craned my neck back. Rolling over I pressed my fist into the soft dirt, hoisting myself unsteadily to my feet. Starting the painful process of peeling off my blood and dirt stained shirt, I tossed the remnants into the dirt. At this point durability remaining or not it was trash.

Limping my way out from the overhang as my tired body protested, finding new aches with each step till I crossed the threshold of the overhangs shadow, stepping into the warm blinding sun. Feeling the warmth on my skin after nearly two days digging myself free in a cold dark cave was like being born again. Shielding my eyes with a hand I waited for my eyes to slowly adjust, revealing an open field surrounded by thick trees in every direction. Stepping into the middle of the field I turned peering over the trees where mountains seemed to stretch to the sky, with only one break in their wall. Heading towards the divide in the mountain I crossed the open field moving into the forest, the thick foliage eclipsing my view. Trying to maintain my bearing I kept trekking further, till I heard the send of running water through the underbrush. Stumbling through a thicket I found myself on the bank of a modest mountain stream. Slipping and sliding my way down the muddy escarpment with wild abandon, reaching level ground I kept moving on wavering legs till I fell at water’s edge. Dunking my head in the frigid clear water I gulped down mouthful after mouthful of the refreshing liquid, washing away the thick dust caked layer in my mouth and throat. Rolling myself onto from the water and into the mud I laid there too exhausted to go further.

I must have fallen asleep shortly after, because when I next opened my eyes the sun had dipped behind the peak of the mountains and daylight was fading fast. Taking a deep breath I checked the wound on my hip, the bleeding had stopped but it still remained unhealed. Pulling up my sheet next I checked my stamina, back up to twenty percent after the rest, but it didn’t seem to be climbing anymore. As I laid there musing on what to do next I heard something over the babbling of the stream. Raising my head I turned searching for the noise again, hearing it in the distance. It sounded like someone shouting, scrambling to my feet I started towards the noise. Whoever it was, I hoped they were friendly. As I crashed through the forest I heard the sound again, closer now. It was panicked shouting, picking up my speed I reached down drawing my dagger which had thankfully stayed with me through the great escape. Running through a patch of bushes I found the source of the shouting. At the base of a large tree was a woad elf, fending off a large quadrupedal creature with what looked to be the top off a broken spear. The beast was something between a boar and wolf, with a canine head topping a broad backed hooved body. Right now it was trying to dodge it’s way past the elf’s spear jaws snapping in frustration as it tossed it’s head back and forth.

I clenched my fist around the hilt of my dagger to stop it from shaking as I inspected the beast closer.

[Luprum][Level 5] [300/300]

I searched my mind frantically for a solution; I couldn’t just leave this person to die but the idea of fending off a wild animal with only a dagger wasn’t tempting either. Standing there frozen I looked back to the elf, who’d finally noticed me. The sheer terror reflecting in his eyes as we stared at each other for a brief moment was too much, this was someone fighting for their life and all I had to fear was a day off in some doctor’s virtual office. Shaking my arm out in an attempt to stop the tremble in my hand I charged forward, my feet slapping against the ground loudly. Nearing the beast I launched myself a top it, feeling the air driven from my lungs as I landed on what amounted to a brick wall of muscle. Digging my left hand into the wire like fur I wrapped my long legs around its groin clinging to it like velcro. All hell broke loose, as the beast started to thrash and buck under me. Bouncing around I held tighter, slamming the dagger repeatedly into the creatures chest and neck. This was something completely outside the normal fantasy fencing, savage and violent as blood poured onto the dagger and my hand. Suddenly the beast bucked me forward, jerking its head back. A loud crunch echoed in my ears as its skull slammed into my nose, I could hear my ears ringing even as could taste blood filling my mouth. Trying to wriggle my way back down the beasts back I felt the thick skull slam into my cheek this time, shattering the bone under my eye as I started to see stars. Pressing my injured face to the creatures shoulder to stop any further abuse I let out a desperate scream into the course fur my dagger still churning into the meat of it over and over again.

I felt the dagger rip from my fingers as I tried to draw it out again, the slick blood making it impossible to hold. Grabbing wildly for the handle I found myself flying ass over backwards as I was bucked free. Landing against the thick roots of the tree, I felt something crack near my ribs as pain washed out across my body. Then it was on me, all I could do was kick at it trying to keep my legs between it and me. Sharp tusks ripped into my calf and thigh, tearing deep gouges in my flesh. This looked to be it as I tried to push it away futilely. My whole body was on fire from the pain and I could feel the strength leaving my limbs as darkness started to creep in. Suddenly a warm feeling rushed through me chasing away the pain as something heavy fell across my legs.

You have leveled, Congratulations! You will be awarded 1 Specialization point to spend on your current skills. Traits are non-refundable and must be spent within 48 hours of level-up.

Looking up I found saw the Luprum draped over my legs, the elf laying against its side with the broken haft of the spear jutting from its eye. Up close I could see it was a man, dark skinned with long thin dreads bundled in a bunch tied at the top of his head.

“My name is Ardoar, thank you for saving me. I thought this was where things ended for me.” He said wide eyed as he reached out a slender blood soaked hand for me.

“I think I should be the one thanking you, I was just about done myself when you brought it down.” Grabbing his hand in my own filth caked mitt I gave it a brief shake. “You can call me Gideon.”

Laying there we just looked at each other, me just excited to see another living person for the first time in days. Him probably trying to decide if I was some sort of half-naked blood soaked mad man. “Uh hey, this is actually really heavy. Do you think you could get off it and it off me?” I mused.

Letting out a rich laugh Ardoar nodded his response, using the beasts broad back to lift himself to his feet. Before falling back onto his butt with a sharp yelp “Damned ankle, I think it’s broken. I tripped in the roots as I was running for my life.”

“Don’t worry I think I can get myself from here.” I said as I pushed at the creature till I could leverage my legs to roll it off me.

The pain had fled my body but I was still exhausted to the core, as I freed myself I laid back against the roots for a moment catching my breath. After a moment recuperating, that turned out to be more like five moments I finally moved to help Ardoar stand, helping hold his weight with his arm over my shoulder.

“You know we shouldn’t just leave it here, Luprum hides fetch a decent price on the market and make excellent armor when cured. Help me over to it and I’ll see what I can do about skinning it.” He said with an amused tone.

“Alright, but after that we need to get somewhere safe. I don’t know this area and I’m about to pass out on my feet here.”

“Don’t worry, help me skin this out and we can make our way down the mountain to my cabin. You can stay with me and my bonded tonight, we’ll figure out what to do from there in the morning.”

It was already dark by the time we’d finished skinning the beast, as we made our way down the mountain with the assistance of my low light vision. It seemed like our trek dragged on for hours, me supporting Ardoar as we formed the world’s gangliest three legged creature. Breaking from the forest we

A broad figure appeared in the doorway as we neared the porch; rushing down to meet us I found myself passing Ardoar off into a pair of strong weathered hands.

“I thought you were dead when you didn’t come back before nightfall.” Said a man in a deep gravelly voice, as he pressed his face to Ardoar’s neck hugging him fiercely.

“Gideon, this is my bonded Tai. Tai this is Gideon. He saved me up on the mountain.” Ardoar replied as he returned the hug, kissing the man atop his head. “I told him he could stay with us.”

“Thank you, thank you for bringing him back to me. Let’s get you two inside quickly.” Tai was already hauling Ardoar inside as he spoke, gesturing for me to follow.

"Uh yeah, I don’t who saved who, but I’m just happy everyone is safe.” I replied as I followed the two men into cottage.